As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Creative Destruction

Creative Destruction Scott

A week ago yesterday, I sent off my novel–well, one of them, at any rate. Woo hoo! Now I am wrestling with a short story that I want to extend to novella length. Two problems. One, part of my central premise for the story turns out to be unworkable. Apparently you can’t have a kid at a school with a gun without getting legions of police officers involved. Who knew? Probably anyone who watches any of the thousand and one police procedural shows on TV. *sigh* But there’s another problem too. The story is based on the idea that there … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: It’s Done.

Oberon

I just completed the next step in a journey that began something like twenty years ago, when I sat down to write my first queer sci fi story. The story “Oberon” opened with a graphic (for me) sex scene, and involved a strange world called Oberon – commonly known as Split because it is literally half a world. I didn’t finish it at the time – in fact, I sketched out just a few scenes, and then put it on the shelf with a bunch of my other unfinished works. But it was a milestone for me. I had recently … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: How I Edit

Scott Editing

Hey all, I am breathing down the neck of my first completed novel in twenty years. “Sciatháin” (which many of you may know as “Oberon”) has been through some serious twists and turns to get to this point. I started the story that eventually led to this novel in the mid-nineties. It was the first “gay” story I ever wrote (or at least began), with a sexual opening sequence that was, in a way, my coming out as a writer. I shelved it after a few scenes – well, I shelved pretty much my whole writing career – for a … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Writing a Successful Serial

Scott

I’m about forty three chapters into “The River City Chronicles“, and am also part of the group serial tale “Marionettes in the Mist” over at Mischief Corner Books. I was just having a conversation with another QSF writer yesterday – someone who is about to embark on a serial project of his own. And it got me thinking – what have I learned in the process of doing two serial fiction projects? So here, in no particular order, is my accumulated wisdom on the subject. 😉 1) Keep Good Notes: This is by far the most important rule of writing … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Taking a Stand

Scott

I’ve given a lot of thought to our current political environment and the state of this election. As a writer, I’m supposed to have this special “writer persona”. One that doesn’t alarm anyone, that doesn’t ruffle any feathers–one that focuses solely on the promotion of my work. I get that. Who hasn’t been disappointed to learn the political views of one of their artist heroes? I remember vividly how terrible I felt when I learned that Orson Scott Card, the sci fi writer who thrilled and amazed me with “Ender’s Game” and “Speaker for the Dead”, had literally called for … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Taking Stock

Scott

Hey all, A couple weeks ago, I kinda hit rock bottom as a writer. Having just had three new stories release, I should have been on top of the world. But I had no time to write, and a number of things I thought would go really well in my writing plan had fizzled. I had dreams when I got back into writing. Big dreams. Each story/novella/novel I released would be bigger than the last. People would read my stories and be amazed, touched, moved to tears. And I would start to make a living at this whole writing thing, at … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Making Great Swag

Swag

OK, I have to admit it. A couple years ago, I had no idea what the hell “swag” was. Then I went to Rainbow Con, and created the first QSF swag – the incredibly tiny buttons – and I finally “got it”. But I still don’t know what makes for great swag – something that people want, something that will help sell your books and advance your brand. Oh, I know the formula: Find something intriguing that people will keep and cherish that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. And I know what doesn’t work. Believe me, I know. … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Testing the Waters

Huffington Post

Two years and some months ago, I re-commited myself to writing. I’ve now published a few things, and have set up several blog tours for my books and the anthologies I have been in. I’ve hit all the normal places – the romance blogs, the LGBT reviewers, etc. But I’ve decided that it’s time to do more. I want to move beyond the romance blogs. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to leave them behind. They are a huge part of our community, and it’s important that we support each other. They should be a part of any marketing strategy. But … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: The Italians Are Coming!

Bologna

Well, technically they’re already here. Let me back up a bit. I’ve been working (and writing) madly over the last three weeks. I had big plans to finish three or four writing projects before June 15th, when our Italian friends, Marco and Fabry, were due to arrive. I wanted to put The Great North to bed, complete my Oberon 3rd draft, extend The Boy in the Band, write the next three chapters of Marionettes in the Mist with Angel, and put together enough chapters of River City to get me through mid July. In the end, I finished The Great … Read more

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Point of View: Pride and Prejudice

Pulse

This morning, after the most deadly shooting in US history which also happened at a gay nightclub on Latino night, has me all tied up in knots. Just a year ago, we finally won the right to marry all across this vast nation. I felt such a sense of pride and accomplishment on that day. It’s something that I and many others gave years – decades of our lives, even – to bring about. And on that day I felt different. Accepted. Finally, as never before, a first class citizen in my own country. Mark and I have started holding … Read more